*sigh*... Manually focusing 50mm on D40

[KimberleyPhotography]

So I knew, or at least thought I knew, what I would be getting into if I bought the 50mm f1.8 prime lense for my Nikon D40x. Manual Focus.

I googled the subject. Checked out exampls on flickr. Read everything I could about it before making the purchase. It came down to the wire when I found a good deal and decided to go for it. Now that I have it I feel like a failure. I cannot manual focus anything to save my life.

This becomes especially true when I try using the higher f-stops from f1.8-f2.8. And perhaps I am just too close to my subject and therefore there is only a razor thin plane that would be in focus thus making it difficult to focus on the correct spot.

Should I give up? Practice more? Only use apetures greater than f2.8. I bought it because its fast, if I can't use that function whats the point...

Any advice for increasing my learning curve on this lens? I cannot afford to step up to the D80/D90 although it may be in my future for 2010. Maybe I should just put it in a box until then because I really really hate when I think I have taken this great shot only to find out that the focus was wrong.

My purposes for buying this lens was for taking indoor shots of kids/families (my own, I'm not a pro and I'm not charging money). Maybe I should sell it and get a 50mm with the motor built in, I think Sigma has one?

Anyways I know some people on here have had great success with this and I am just wondering how you do it?? Did you need to take 1,000s of shots before you got it right?

Help

[Murtasma]

Just a thought but make sure the diopter on your view finder is properly adjusted. If this is incorrect you will never get proper focus when doing it manually.

[Eberbachl]

Are you using the focus confirmation dot in the view finder, or just trying to see when things look sharp?

[Mr Guy]

Indeed, use the focus indicators, and get more distance, and practice.


Also, thank your lucky stars that you don't have to wait three days, and pay $20 to find out you screwed the focus.

[KimberleyPhotography]

Originally Posted by Murtasma

Just a thought but make sure the diopter on your view finder is properly adjusted. If this is incorrect you will never get proper focus when doing it manually.

I have tried adjusting that and I am pretty sure its in the right location. I used auto focus on other lenses and it seems perfect.

Are you using the focus confirmation dot in the view finder, or just trying to see when things look sharp?

Yes I always look for the green dot. I have even taken pictures of books with words and there will be a small part that is in focus but never the whole line of text.

For reference, this is a picture I took using the lens and it is bang on sharp (in my opinion) but it was at f3.5 which I don't have as many problems with.


But for every 100 pictures I take there is only 1 or 2 that are sharp and it seems like a waste of time.

[Mr Guy]

You'll get better with practice, but keep in mind distance plays a major role.

http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

If you're very close and your lens is super wide open, your depth of field really IS razor thin. Perfectly focused on eyes from four feet away is going to put the tip of most noses out of focus. If you're testing on a book from a minimal focus distance away, you're lucky to get multiple LETTERS in focus. Doing it manually versus automatically isn't going to change any of that. It's just the maths involved!

[wulf]

You need to get a firm handle on depth of field (DoF). At a wide aperture and short distance, this will be tiny. For example, here is a shot I took last night:



Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 1/100s
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 90mm (Vivitar 90mm lens)
ISO Speed: 200

It isn't great but illustrates just how small the DoF can get. That also reminds me of another possibility. I prefer the tone of some of the other shots I took that evening but you can see that nothing is very sharp:



That is the same set up except a shutter speed of 1/3s (handheld) and no flash. If you are shooting in darkish conditions you may be using a shutter speed that is too slow and thus your pictures are not suffering from poor focus but camera shake instead.

Wulf

[Eberbachl]

Originally Posted by KimberleyPhotography

I have tried adjusting that and I am pretty sure its in the right location. I used auto focus on other lenses and it seems perfect.



Yes I always look for the green dot. I have even taken pictures of books with words and there will be a small part that is in focus but never the whole line of text.

For reference, this is a picture I took using the lens and it is bang on sharp (in my opinion) but it was at f3.5 which I don't have as many problems with.


But for every 100 pictures I take there is only 1 or 2 that are sharp and it seems like a waste of time.

If you can get part of a line of text in a book sharp, and the rest of the text blurred - that's excellent!

It sounds like you're experiencing depth of field, not focusing troubles.

The razor thin depth of field up close with a 50mm 1.8 isn't a bad thing - it's one of the great things about this lens.

As you stop down the lens, or shoot from a longer distance to your subject you depth of field gets greater. Experience will soon help you decide how much depth of field you want in a shot.

This is why the 50mm lens is such a great creative tool - you have absolute control.

I suggest rejoice in your new-found friend, and get lots of practice in with it.



Please note: A 50mm lens with built in focusing motor will not help you with this. Learning how to use depth of field has nothing to do with autofocusing ability Vs manual focusing. Actually - I think manual focusing is even better when learning this stuff.

[KimberleyPhotography]

Originally Posted by Mr Guy

You'll get better with practice, but keep in mind distance plays a major role.

http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

If you're very close and your lens is super wide open, your depth of field really IS razor thin. Perfectly focused on eyes from four feet away is going to put the tip of most noses out of focus. If you're testing on a book from a minimal focus distance away, you're lucky to get multiple LETTERS in focus. Doing it manually versus automatically isn't going to change any of that. It's just the maths involved!

Thanks for the link. I have tried to do the math on paper but I was never able to visualize it and this website has a diagram so thats very helpful!! I will try practicing with these rules in mine (and maybe a tape measure)

[KimberleyPhotography]

You need to get a firm handle on depth of field (DoF).

You're very right. I have a lack of knowlege on this. I am just starting to get a good handle on shooting in full manual mode. However knowing what distance to put between me and my subject seems like a harder skill to learn. There is only so much you can learn from a book, I guess I will just have to keep trying.

It sounds like you're experiencing depth of field, not focusing troubles.

You're right, I guess it is impractical to think that anyone could focus a whole face when only 1 inch is able to be in focus in the first place!


Thanks guys, I guess I really do just need more time to learn. I won't put it in the bag for storage just yet!